Identification and characterization of a novel neuropeptide (neuropeptide Y-HS) from leech salivary gland of Haemadipsa sylvestris

An immunomodulatory peptide was isolated and purified from the leech salivary of (Haemadipsa sylvestris) by Sephadex G-50, ResourceTM S column and reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Its amino acid sequence was obtained by Edman degradation, and its coding sequence was cloned from the cDNA library. The peptide reduced the secretion of cytokins in mouse splenocytes to inhibit inflammation.